Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-09-02
JEFFERSON DAtts LETTER.
The Revolution 1t Ia Causing In the
Feeling Of the South toward Him
is II n Dlcssing I'm Iljspuisc?

Editor The Voicc.-Your short editorial
in the issue of August a, headed at Must
BE Fatality" in which you speak Of JET
ferson Davis's anti-Prohibition letter to
Gen. Lubbock Of Teths, Is as kind and at
the same time as pointed nm article as the
situation demanded. In that article you
are Kind In not wounding the Southern
people by abusing their once revered chief
tain. Your kindness in this is similar TO
the mercy humanity shows in threading
lightly DER the dust OF the dead.n JEFF
ferson Davis, in writing that fatal letter
himself "nursed the pinion which i'm
PEELED the STEEL" and In gaining a vlct-
ory for the Texas whisky advocates los,
his hold upon thousands of noble, loyal
Southern hearts who have hitherto shelf
cred him from every thrust OF criticism
or hate. The general verdict from the
best people in Mississippi 10 day IS, that
Mr.. Davis las made a great mistake,
which even the memory of the old Confed.
crate days has no power TO obliterate. One
OF the most prominent prea chers in this
State, Southern man by birth and rear
ing, said in the pulpit few days since /:
81 blush to say my father WAS his (Mr.
Davissl friend" Another intense South
ener--so intenee that he has, ever since
the war, continued to wear the gray
said: 81 once thought that if ever Mr..
Davis came TO my town I'd send my little
children 10 scatter flowers in his way. Now
II he were to come, I'd say: "Wife, child.
ren, Mr. Davis Is here; stay closely in the
house TO dayW These quoted remarks in
dicate the popular verdict in Mississippi.
We all feel as If we had had a death in
our family, and as if we would love for
the world 10 read simply the burial Ger
vice without going into personalities. In
this present state it is to be hoped that nj
prohibition journals North will follow
your wise course, which shows so much
delicacy OF thought for your Southern
comrades who are with you in this truer
nobler war.
You say, "It must he fatality |" We
say: at must be providential." Before
Prohibition can be both won and enforced
IN The South it must have in il and around
it the law and the executor of the law
This can only be secured by the strong
pressure of well organized, clearly defined
party. This party must be brave and true
enough to fight and endure for the right
even ii old issues and old prejndices are
buried in the effort, The forming of thi,
party is necessarily TO be brought abou
by mighty upheavals. The South mus
realize fully that the issues OF the civi
war are TO be forever "put aside," SHE
must know that union with the North
in one common interest is of greater i'm
portance than a morbid senlimentality
"The Solid South" must give right of way
to the Sober South" and the "Home
Protection party" must supplant any and
all Saloon parties. To bring the Southern
people TO this active conviction God seem.
TO be moving In wonderful way. Mr.
Davis, perhaps unconsciously TO himself
has kept alive the feelings engendered by
the war. The South has kept upon the
alert 10 see if the North intended to reflect
upon or crticise harshly her old chiellain
and the slightest blow at Mr.. Davis has
been fire enough to set Southern prejudice
boiling. That dsenfranchlsed old soldier
IN his home, at Beavoir has been during
all the years following the war snge in
the opinion of many Southern men, who
looked upon his discernement as almost IN
fallible. So long as Mr.. Davis could hold
this eminence, just so long the complete